Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-22
RUNS Startling Record
ENOUGH OF THE ARDENT DRUNK
IN 1886 TO FORM A GREAT LAKE

IN 1886 TO FORM A GREAT LAKE.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-Twenty
or more pages of the quarterly re-
port of the chief Of the Bureau of
Statistics, Gust OUT are devoted to
the consumption Of distilled and
malt liquors and wines," and esti-
mates made by recognized authorl-
ties are given upon various features
of this subject. In round numbers,
the consumption of distilled spirits,
domestic and imported in this
country is shown to have increased
from 43,000,000 gallons in 1910 to
72,OOO,OO0 in 1886; Of wines, from
4,SOO, 900 gallons to 22,0O0,O00, and
of malt liquors, from 23,000,0OO to
G42 100000 gallons. The consnmp-
ton per capita during the same
period decreased, as regards dis
titled spirits, from about two and
a-half gallons to about one and
a.quarter gallons, and increased,
as regards wines, from 29-1OOths to
3S.100ths gallons, and malt liquors
from less than one and a-half gal
Ions to more than eleven gallons.
An elaborate statement made by
Mr.. f. n. Barrett, editor of the
Ne,o York Grocer, by request of the
chief of the bureau, is given, which
sets forth, among other things,
that the present average expendi-
ture in this country per annum for
malt and spirituous liqnors and
beer at retail is s7O0,OO0,00 The
drinking population is estimated to
be lin 1856 14,925,417, making the
average expenditure per capita
$500. Mr.. Barrett shows by
tables covering the FIVE years from
1882 to 1856, inclusive, that the
consumption OF spirits is decreas
ing, while that OF beer is increas
ing, and that there is reduced
use Of wine as beverage. "Dur
ing this PERIOD" he says, "the con
sumption of coffee has risen from
S2.10 per capita o911-1OO pounds
Do not these facts show that the
milder stimulants are driving out
their fiery competitor ! And is i
not due to the growing agitation o
the temperance question ~
Mr.. Barrett says the wholesale
cost of the liquors, for which thu
retailers receive seven hundred
millions, is not more than three
hundred million dollars. He make
brief calculation of the cost o
liquors as compared with that o
food, clothing and shelter, reach
ing the conclusion that the Amer
can people expend from twelve t
seventeen dollars for the neceS
saries named to every dollar pai'
out for liquor. Mr.. James A
Webb, of New York, furnishes
statement to the effect that Onl
ten per cent. of the distilled spirit
consumed in this country is use
for medicine and manufacturln
purposes, ninety per cent. beln
used as a beverage.
From a table covering the fv
years ending with 1885, it is learI
: ell that the consumption of distille
spirits per capita has steadily II
creased in France from .9i gallon
to 1.32 gallons that it has varle
in this country between one an
fOrtysix one hundredths in lSS'
, and one aud twenty.fOur hundretf
/ gallons IN 1884 and 1885; that Il
. United Kingdom consumes lltt
r more than a gallon per capita, an
that the consumption in German
! has decreased from Que and thirty
. two hundreths in 1881 to one al
, fourteen hundredths IN l, SS5. Franc
during the same period, increase
= her wine consumption from elgf
e teen and a-half 10 nearly thlrt'
, seven gallon, while this cOuntr
, and the United Kingdom. begi
D ming with less than half a gallo
per head, shown slight falling OI
! In the matter of beer cOnsumpt''
!, during this period, the Unit
r States increased her average tror
Q a little less than ten to a llttl
s more than eleven gallons; tn
f United Kingdom held her own g
t about thirty-three gallons, an
b. Germany did the same at abot
}. twenty.three gallons.
), Immoral and Wicked.